NETIZENS want Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad to expel as opposed to “merely change department/transfer out” the coincidentally few orthopaedic specialists at two public medical facilities for sexual harassment of housemen if indeed the allegations against them are proven to be true.
The two medical facilities are Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar in Seremban and Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun in Ipoh. These follows the viralled circulation of what is deemed to be ‘poison pen letter’ of their wrongdoing on social media.
Recall that during his previous tenure as health minister, Dr Dzulkefly had announced the termination of service of an orthopaedic department head at a public hospital in Klang Valley effective Nov 14, 2018 for having sexually harassed and making sexual advances against trainee doctors.
For the uninitiated, the field of orthopaedics encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumours and congenital disorders.
Although Dr Dzulkefly has personally pledged stern action against the culprits in a post on X (previously Twitter), netizens insisted that the wrongdoers should be suspended pending an internal probe by both hospitals and to be sacked as a deterrent.
Above all else, there should also be no cover-up with “the sex predators” allowed to roam freely after the dust has settled.
Salam @jnmalaysia @faiqahff
Saya mahu dibudaya etika kerja yg ‘selamat & adil’, bermula dgn Pimpinan di semua peringkat dlm KKM.
Jika siasatan terbukti benar, saya akan ambil tindakan tegas.
KKM mengamalkan ‘Toleransi Sifar’ terhadap sebarang ‘Gangguan Seksual & Harassment’. https://t.co/c1mb7R08P1 pic.twitter.com/QJ4DzSYpZu— Dzulkefly Ahmad (@DrDzul) March 16, 2024
Below are some reactions to Dr Dzulkefly’s tweet:
Some netizens called for the enforcement of whistleblower protection policy to protect house officers (HO) who dare not speak up or to rid “toxic seniority culture”.
One netizen even suggested that the investigation committee confiscate the mobile phones of the specialists for pictorial evidence.
Few netizens went on to suggest “criminal proceedings should ensue” if the allegations were to be proven true.
But few are also wary if a deafening silence will ensure soon after.
Before the mind-boggling curiosity as to why orthopaedic specialists are so prone to incidences of sexual harassment can be answered, a netizen expressed hope that Dr Dzulkefly can also ‘train his gun’ at the at Sungai Buloh Hospital’s obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) department for “bouts of bullying”. – March 17, 2024
